Britain's first gay surrogate parents have announced they will be getting married - and have invited fellow gay dad Elton John to the wedding.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his partner Tony, who run the Maldon-based British Surrogacy Centre, are already civil partners but have decided to get married after the same-sex marriage bill was passed in July.

Practising Christian Mr Drewitt-Barlow, 44, had hoped to get married in his local church in Danbury and launched a legal challenge in August after he was barred from doing do.

Now he has turned his back on being married in church and has set a date for the flamboyant bash for March 29 at Pontlands Park hotel in Great Baddow.

Not one to do things out of the limelight, the pair have invited a host of celebrities to the 200-guest wedding, including A-lister Elton, who they know through surrogacy, and singer Ricky Martin.

Former professional footballer Neil “Razor” Ruddock will make an appearance as Tony’s best man and The Only Way is Essex stars Amy Childs and Chloe Sims will make up some of the 10 bridesmaids.

Ipsoregulated

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